browniecj. I do still like Crombies,particuarly in herringbone ( preferably without velvet collar ), i just dont think that i would wear one very often. I meant to respond to the post where you said that you would have felt like a slob going to the pub not wearing a suit,contrast that to this story,my son went to a 21st birthday party recently one of the blokes there in his late forties early fifties was wearing a suit.My son said that he heard at least half a dozen people ask this bloke if he had just been in court !

Thanks for this Ed. I had seen a similar piece at the time but this gives more detail. I like the bit about the Englishman not feeling comfortable wearing suede. I think I read somewhere that while he did not take readily to reversed calf shoes, now he is more easily suede!

Thanks, Ed; hadn't seen that. Interested to see reference to "chukka" boots. When I first had a pair of desert boots around 67/68, my Mum & Dad used to call them chukka boots - though there can't have been a polo pony within a hundred miles of our house and my knowledge of polo was restricted to mints. (On second thoughts, Cheshire was less than a hundred miles away ... northern-most of the Home Counties and all that :-) )

Interesting mate, i've been a keen modeller/painter for many years, i've seen a few things like you describe, usually smaller scale and aimed at the gaming fraternity. Gazza's boot boys in the link below always made me chuckle

Bob the Badger. Interesting list of what you would still wear,the hard part is finding a lot of the clothes and shoes.When i see something that i like i have to stop and think "when would i wear that ?",like you say about wearing a Crombie at a funeral.I do like Crombies but from a practical point i cant see myself wearing one a lot now,it seems to rain more than get cold in the winter and a lot of shopping centres are indoors and heated,i dont stand on football terraces in the cold and a long coat is a bit impractical when driving.Sheepskins,i did have one but i wouldnt now,again not practical in the rain and expensive to have cleaned.You mention Blazers,do you prefer patch pocket blazers ? also where do you find American button downs now ?.

Agree with this.Very difficult to find the clothes I like these days. All blazers I have owned have had patch pockets. I don't have a blazer at present but I am interested in what Mr Knightley is having made up. I occasionally buy Brooks Brothers shirts (made in USA) which are the right fit for me. I avoid logos on shirts.

Mr Badger, apart from the 'thick woollen socks’ I could have written that post myself. It is uncannily similar to my own attitude now and then. Is it, I wonder an example of the regional thing? I suppose we were only a few miles apart and subject to the same influences.Just a couple of observations / questions. Is it tasselled loafers in general you dislike or rather the Bass version? I wear the Sebago Kerry today.As far as Fred Perry is concerned I will, and do wear the Italian made ones and have also bought the odd FP collaboration item like the Comme des Garcons Shirt ones a few years back.I also struggle with the Fairisle these days despite having a lovely Paul Smith one that my wife bought me and who is always nagging me to wear it.....

I think of the tasselled loafer as, generally, a young man's shoe (or was). The Bass version was my favourite when I was young and I did wear a J Simons bought pair until I was about 40 years old. I have had a re-think regarding the Fair Isle sweater, what with M o M's Monty Python reference and Elwoods, Paul McCartneys image is lodged in my brain. So Fair Isle -Maybe not for me after all.

I have read some of your previous posts and reckon our paths must have crossed in the past. You once mentioned the Coopers Arms pub which was a pub we went to when our school year finished in 1969 and was the place to go at that time. I had forgotten how popular the pub was until I read your post. There may well be a regional influence but most people I know today, living in Essex, dress no where near as well as we all used to.

Bit behind here, but saw this in Telegraph magazine article - about Matt Berry (?) I think - a few days ago:

A bit blurred, but seems to be Jack Wills (although no longer on their website). Don't think it's as stylish as the cashmere one Gsvs5 posted a few days back; but fairisle doesn't really do it for me these days - reminds me to much of McCartney in Magical Mystery Tour. (Loved The Beatles but he sets my teeth on edge.)

Funnily enough as much as I loved them at the time and was really tempted by the Cashmere one I posted earlier,it's one piece of clothing that was great at the time but just seems very dated ,today.Maybe it could still look cool on a teenager today? I doubt it on anyone with any grey hair.